As the Resourcing and Talent Manager at NewLaw, I am responsible for the companies recruitment strategy. Part of this role means reading, analysing and acting upon reviews that I read online. So, I thought - Why not leave my own? After all, I am an employee too!

I started working at NewLaw 3 months ago this week. I have purposely waited 90 days before giving an opinion.

So, here is what I think....

I think the company really care about making sure HR are available to support the people within the business. Why? Because in the past 6 months the HR team has been grown from 4 team members to 11, ensuring there is a good mix of people that have skills related to policy and employment law, employee engagement and well-being, diversity and inclusion, as well as training and recruitment.

I think the company really cares about the development of people within the business? Why? Because 6 months ago they took on a new Learning and Development manager to do just that, who is supported by 2 other trainers. I hardly see that section of the team as they are always out and about within the rest of the business making sure people get the training they need, want and would expect.

I think the company really cares about the well-being of its staff. Why? Because in 2019, there have been weekly well-being initiatives, a new team of 'Well-being warriors' recruited internally to support people, and more and more being done to train mental health firstaiders, develop peoples understanding of invisible disabilities and to support staff with their general well-being.

I think themore... company really care about diversity and inclusion. Why? Other than my own personal experience being gay and living with ADHD and knowing I am in an environment I can be myself, the company offers part time opportunities to students to fit around University and for parents and carers that need part time hours to fit in with school pick ups. We have a space in the office that is utilised by people of various faiths as a prayer room.

I think NewLaw really care about how their staff feel about working here. Why? Because the feedback received over the past year is being listened to, the right decisions are being made and the company is going through a fantastic period of change.

The final Pro from me, is that if the above sounds like a company you want to join - We have lots of opportunities available!less

Pros

The company is developing, growing and going through a great period of change, which makes it really exciting to be part of.

Cons

Communication. Many great things are happening, but they are not shouted about as much as they could be.

Poor treatment of people. The place is not diverse. It's a habit of binning people instead of keeping them and developing them.

Learnt about desk moves whilst I was there. And being shown there was no room for people like me there. Awful. I had left one place for this place as I had been waiting for so long to work there. Really disappointing.

It has been great because you get really hands on experience with drafting legal documents, managing your own case load. However, that also comes with its disadvantage. You have about 300 cases and unrealistic targets to reach, and management are also breathing down your neck for the targets.

The salary is ridiculous compared to the amount of work and effort we actually put in. If the pay was more, it would motivate a lot more people to stay but unfortunately there is a high staff turnover and the employees who still work there will be left to pick up the pieces after an employee leaves.

Young working environment, everyone is friendly and super nice. Its a good place to start your legal career. Use it as a stepping stone, it is not place you can stay for long.

Pros

Lots of incentives, and competitions where you can win things and the people who work there

It is changing masssivley and although busy the management team are really trying to change the culture.

Lots of great training available and opportunities to study and develop with career progression

Salary is OK, and the teams are full of great people, location good and I just walk over from Cardiff Queen street station. benefits are being worked on and they have just introduced a relaxed dress code

Flexible working options are useful and you would not find them anywhere else in a law firm.

Terrible place to work. Management is awful and team leaders even worse. Turn around of staff is ridiculous. No incentives, no positive feedback only negative, bad salary. Sickness is not recorded properly and good hardworking staff taken for granted. Managers unapproacable and the way some team leaders speak to their staff is awful. Would never recommend this as a work place for a human.

Have worked at the firm over a year, worked in a department which allowed as much freedom to manage my team as I felt necessary, with support there when required/asked for.

With the closure of the Bristol office, morale in both Cardiff and Bristol offices has taken a hit, but a new management structure in place has identified that morale is a key thing to act on and are working to change this with a different approach, incentives etc.

Whilst in a new department now, still feel I have as much autonomy to manage my team as I see fit, again with as much support as I feel I might need.

I started at NewLaw a few years ago expecting to stay 1 year. Many do leave after a few months but there are good opportunities for those who stay. I have been promoted twice and support by management when I have changed roles. For those who want progression it is there if you work for it.Improvements in staff benefits and rewards are needed but with a new management structure the general feeling is that this will happen. Caseloads are high but there is a huge recruitment drive to increase staff numbers and reduce the case numbers. The people who work here are great and make the place.

I found the people I worked with to be excellent but the way the business was run was very poor. The accounts department was by far better run and managed but the MOJ department was a revolving door due to being horrendously mis-managed

Since the company was sold things have gone down hill each year, staff retention was a problem, but they have closed another office (bristol) and made redundancies in both bristol and cardiff.

The company is heavily personal injury focused and with the new reforms on the horizon I wouldnt recommend joining the company unless you have no other job, otherwise you may become disappointed one day.

Cons

poor salary increases and bonus structure, no career progression, no investment in training

This office is closing. Salaries were low and several experienced staff members left when the company employed a new starter on a larger salary. Senior management were made aware of this but chose to ignore it. Now the office is closing!

The attrition rate at the company is usually 5 - 7 months; it's very rare for someone in the RTA / MOJ / Ageas teams to work there longer than that (which should tell you something about how a company is run).

The management at the establishment also had a well known history for being unjust in their approach to certain staff members.

On the plus side, great team of people i.e. that always makes work easier and the people they employ at entry level are usually very friendly and easy to get along with.

The company provides very good training but here is where the advantages stop. The workload is massive and, though, nobody comes to ask you how many cases have you actually actioned in one day, one can feel the pressure.

The salary increase is minimal (below inflation rate). There are almost no benefits (minimum pension, no insurance, no parties,etc.).

NewLaw solicitors is a great place to work, I never dread coming to work on a Monday. The office has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere and the management are friendly and approachable, regardless of your position within the company. NewLaw are a family friendly company and I have found them to be very flexible and supportive when required. The company has a great social committee, who always strive to create great events, such as the annual office bake off, regular quiz nights and office nights out. All in all a great place to work.

This place does not care about the clients it's all about the money. You'll be hounded about targets constantly and always have some manager pecking your head. The managers aren't great either, very unsupportive and can be very manipulative. The pay is also shocking. Training is pathetic as they'd rather have bums on seats earning money than looking after staff. The amount of people who leave is unsurprising really.

Due to the expansive caseloads, it is pretty much full-on case management from start to finish in order to meet individual and team targets. However, simultaneously I was able to understand the process and why things ought to be done in a certain way rather than knowing what to do. We have a pretty streamlined management system with daily contact and communication. And, the team is hardworking and vibrant with a focus to achieve outstanding performances throughout the working weeks.